A couple of cool cats and a whole bunch of dogs … it can only be the new fall network TV season.

Both “Hellcats” and “Nikita.”debuted this week on the CW, and elsewhere on the networks, the dramas seem to be recycled and the comedies — with the exception of a couple — don’t promise much more.

“Hellcats,” Wednesdays, CW, is a watchable character drama about a former gymnast (Aly Michalka) who joins the snooty college cheerleading squad to get a scholarship. Singer Ashley Tisdale (Disney’s “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” and the “High School Musical” films ) plays her roommate.

As for “Nikita,” yes, it is the fourth time this material has been tried and yes, it was 20 years ago that “La Femme Nikita” first burst on the scene. But “Newsday” has already called the show “a highly polished reboot” and the Miami Herald said it “undeniably taps into some profoundly mythic stream in Western consciousness,” adding that it’s “a rollicking, if slightly psychotic, good time.”

Sounds promising.

Four to avoid (and one big question mark)

“Outlaw,” Sept. 15, NBC

The outlandish plot has a U.S. Supreme Court justice (Jimmy Smits), who likes his dice hot and his women hotter, abruptly resigning to help the little guy after he realizes the legal system is flawed. And with that, we’re off and running.

“Better With You,” Sept. 22, ABC

Adult sisters and their relationships with their parents — it feels like a throwback to the 1980s: Maddie’s “life choice” is to live with but not to marry her boyfriend; Mia is having a baby with a guy she just met.

“My Generation,” Sept. 23, ABC

Texas classmates reunite and bring lots of baggage with them. Poorly written and badly acted, it feels like a remake of something that aired in the dead of summer and then was quickly canceled.

“S*! My Dad Says,” Sept. 23, CBS

Wonder where the networks get their ideas? Here’s a sitcom based on a Twitter feed. William “Priceline Negotiator” Shatner plays a politically incorrect geezer who’s always on his son’s case. After the almost-unwatchable pilot was shown, producers decided to recast and reshoot.

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“Law & Order: Los Angeles,” Sept. 29, NBC

Can Dick Wolf and company make the transition to the West Coast? No pilot episode was available, but I wouldn’t bet against it.

Five new dramas

“Lone Star,” Sept. 20, Fox

It’s “Dallas” meets “Dynasty” wrapped into one show, only this time, the sudsy melodrama is set in Houston and in the Permian Basin (that’s Midland and Odessa for all you non-Texans).

“Undercovers,” Sept. 22, NBC

Retired spies return to the fray as contract clandestine agents who only get the toughest cases. Oh yeah, and they’re married to each other.

“The Whole Truth,” Sept. 22, ABC

A lawyers-in-love (maybe) legal drama that presents both sides of a case (hence the title) until nothing but the whole truth is revealed. Rob Morrow and Maura Tierney star.

“Blue Bloods,” Sept. 24, CBS

Tom Selleck stars as a top cop whose sons (Donnie Wahlberg and Will Estes) have followed him onto the force, while his daughter (Bridget Moynahan) jumped the rails and became an assistant district attorney.

“No Ordinary Family,” Sept. 28, ABC

It starts like “Swiss Family Robinson” when a disaffected family crash lands in the Amazon River Basin. Then somehow, they all gain superpowers…

Five new comedies

“Mike & Molly,” Sept. 20, CBS

An adorable overweight cop and chubby schoolteacher meet cute at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting. There’s potential here, but it mostly comes from the sidekicks played by Katy Mixon and Swoosie Kurtz.

“Raising Hope,” Sept. 21, Fox

A shoe’s-on-the-other-foot, fish-out-of-water comedy about a man raising a baby girl with the help of his wacko family. Nevertheless, it has its outrageous moments … And Cloris Leachman is back!

“Running Wilde,” Sept. 21, Fox

A self-centered playboy (Will Arnett) who desires his housekeeper’s daughter (Keri Russell), who’s just returned home in hopes of making him into a better man. Off-center and out-of-the-box, from the “Arrested Development” crew.

“The Defenders,” Sept. 22, CBS

It’s a legal drama; it’s a buddy comedy; it’s Las Vegas defense attorneys Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell giving it their all to see that justice is served. Uh, huh.

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“Outsourced,” Sept. 23, NBC

Although it smacks of cultural stereotyping (and the 2006 movie of the same name), when a Midwest novelties salesman is sent to India to manage the company’s outsourced call center, he discovers the joke’s on him.

Five new action series

“Nikita,” Thursdays, CW

Yet another verison of the film “La Femme Nikita” about an outre young woman trained to be an assassin. But here’s the surprising spin: Nikita turns on her trainers in an effort to do them in for making her an assassin.

“The Event,” Sept. 20, NBC

Slick, puzzling action-mystery-thriller jumps around in time, but fails to reveal exactly what “The Event” is. Will viewers stay tuned? Stay tuned.

It was supposed to be a documentary-film team following cops working the mean streets of the Motor City, but it morphed into a scripted drama about cops working the mean streets of Motown. Stars Michael Imperioli (“The Sopranos”).